Monday - Into the Cave of Thieves (Total Mayhem #1)

by Ralph Lazar, Ralph Lazar (Illustrator)

Overview

"Delightfully chaotic." — Kirkus Reviews

New York Times bestselling author Ralph Lazar presents a hilarious action comedy for chapter book readers about Dash Candoo, who must defeat extraordinary foes every school day.

For Dash Candoo, every day is... DANGEROUS!

There is no such thing as a boring day for Dash Candoo.

On Monday, before he can even enjoy his cereal and wombat juice, he is attacked by a squad of combat-ready scallywags and the two-tailed Devil Cat.

And that is just before breakfast. The adventure explodes when Dash gets to school and must deal with a number of Total Mayhem Situations, including a missing Wobble-Ball trophy and the disappearance of one of the most expensive bottles of perfume in the world.

Where will it all lead?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338770377
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	08/03/2021
Series:	Total Mayhem , #1
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	62,236
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.30(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

RALPH LAZAR was a strategist at Goldman Sachs before becoming an artist, author, and illustrator. Along with his wife and cocreator Lisa Swerling, they have created several successful cartoons for children and sold illustrated greeting cards by the millions.

Editorial Reviews

07/26/2021

Dash Candoo, 11, who appears to be a character of color with dark curly hair, has a penchant for narrating in lists and a knack for attracting “total mayhem.” When Dash’s breakfast is interrupted by the random appearance of three combat-ready, ninja-like wrestle-scallywags and the two-tailed Devil-Cat, he’s in for a so-called “total mayhem situation.” Dash handily vanquishes these unusual foes, but the bedlam continues over the course of a day at Swedhump Elementary, which features unlikely classes such as “Vegetables” and “Paper Airplanes.” A sprawling, fast-paced plot unfolds, involving the world’s largest carrot, the theft of a trophy and the world’s most expensive perfume, underground tunnels, a quadcycle chase, and an abundance of Bond-esque gadgets used by Dash and his white sidekick and best friend, Rob Newman. Rough, doodle-like b&w line drawings are paired with a typeface of varying size, conveying the feel of a child’s notebook. With enough detailed world-building to fill an almanac, Lazar and Swerling (Happiness Is...) concoct a high-octane caper in this early graphic novel series starter. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 7–10. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"Delightfully chaotic." — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2021-07-14
Is there anything worse than mayhem ruining your breakfast?

Dash Candoo is no ordinary elementary schooler. After he dispatches three fearsome Wrestle-Scallywags and a two-tailed Devil Cat that interrupted his breakfast, Dash heads to Swedhump Elementary to take classes like Vegetables and Paper Airplanes alongside English and math. But the morning’s mayhem was just the beginning: Items are mysteriously stolen from school grounds in broad daylight. Dash knows the Scallywags and Devil Cat are involved, and he immediately begins investigating. But he will need the help of his best friend, Rob Newman, some highly specific gadgetry, and several secret tunnels if he wants to figure out who’s behind the thefts and why before the villains carry out their final plan. With this series opener, Lazar has crafted a visual narrative that lands somewhere between a wacky cartoon and an increasingly outlandish group round robin. With Dash narrating all the background exposition and action play-by-play, readers don’t have much breathing room as the plot hurtles forward—something Lazar seems to anticipate with the inclusion of occasional double-page spreads to break up the momentum as well as the promise of a treat should a reader finish the book in one sitting. The underlining of certain terms to signal that readers can find further information in copious backmatter also offers the option to pause. Black-and-white illustrations render Dash and a few other characters as characters of color. Sequel Tuesday—The Curse of the Blue Spots publishes simultaneously.

Delightfully chaotic. (Graphic adventure. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews